Aged residential care occupancy for 31 March 2018 quarter

The national occupancy figure at 31 March 2018 is 87.9% (Figure 1, red line). This is up 1.0% from the 86.9% recorded in 31 December 2017. Underlying this shift, a 1.5% increase in residents over the quarter (to 33,956) has outstripped a 0.4% increase in beds (to 38,621).

Compared to a year ago, there has been a 1.9% increase in occupancy rate since March 2017. This increase is driven by a 1.7% increase in residents against a 0.5% decrease in beds over the year.

The number of distinct care facilities recorded in the 31 March 2018 survey was, at 668, 3 up from the 665 in the 31 December 2017 survey.

Figure 1 also shows the occupancy rate with ORA ARRC-certified bed and residents excluded (green line). This stands at 89.6%, up from 88.5% in December 2017.

The average occupancy rate for NZACA members in March 2018 is 88.3% (up from 87.3% in December 2017), compared to non-members occupancy of 83.2%.

The DHB region with the highest occupancy in the March 2018 quarter is West Coast, at 95.5% (Table 1). West Coast also has the greatest jump in occupancy rate over the quarter – up 8.4% (Figure 2). Underlying this is a 10% fall in bed supply (due to closure of Dunsford Ward) against a decrease in residents of only 1.3%. Northland (93.4%) and South Canterbury (92%) also have relatively high occupancy. At the other extreme, Taranaki’s occupancy stands at only 80.5%, less than Lakes at 80.8%.

Figure 2 ranks the DHB regions in descending order of their shift in occupancy between December 2017 and March 2018. After West Coast, the second largest jump in occurred in Lakes (up 5.9% to 80.8%). This is followed by a 5.1% increase (to 86.8%) in Whanganui and a 4.8% increase (to 81.6%) in Nelson Marlborough.

Table 2 shows the national occupancy difference by (non-ORA) bed type in December 2017 and March 2018. Occupancy of dedicated rest home beds has increased by 0.8% to 89.8%. Occupancy of dedicated hospital beds increased by 1.1% to 90.5%, and occupancy of dual service beds increased by 1.2% to 89.4%.

Table 3 shows occupancy across all DHB regions by (non-ORA) bed-service type at 31 March 2018.